Sword of Vermilion

Overview

Sword of Vermilion (JP: Vermilion) is an action-RPG for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, and the second RPG released on the system after Phantasy Star II. It was re-released on the Sega Genesis Collection as well as on the Wii's Virtual Console service, and most recently was made available in Sega Genesis Classics collection for Steam (released as part of the Vol. 3 pack) and consoles.

The story concerns the dispossessed Prince of a kingdom that was conquered by King Tsarkon back when the Prince was still an infant. Eighteen years later he is told by his dying guardian, Blade, of his destiny to retake the Kingdom of Excalabria with the various rings of goodness scattered across the world.

Sword of Vermilion is best known for its alternating perspectives: top-down for towns, angled top-down for its real-time battles, and a first-person view for dungeon-crawling (similar to the original Phantasy Star).